DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i5.223

Keywords: PEMFC; humidifier temperature; hydrogen gas flow rate

Abstract

The tests on the effect of humidifier temperature and hydrogen gas flow rate on MEA performance of PEMFC has been done. This study used MEA with Pt/C catalyst at the anode and Pd-Co/C at the cathode. The MEA was characterized using the Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) method to determine the Electrochemical Active Surface Area (ECSA) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to determine the conductivity value. Then the MEA performance test was carried out based on the I-V and I-P curves on variations in humidifier temperature and hydrogen gas flow rate. Characterization and performance tests were carried out on PEMFC single stack. The results of the MEA characterization of Pt/C and Pd-Co/C with the CV method obtained an ECSA value of 1.8 cm2/g. Meanwhile, using the EIS method, the conductivity value is 3.85 × 10-9 S/cm. The MEA humidifier temperature performance test obtained the best operating temperature at 40 °C with a power density of 3.192 mW/cm2 at a current density of 12 mA/cm2 and the MEA performance test with variations in the hydrogen flow rate was the best at a flow rate of 200 mL/min with a power density of 3.192 mW/cm2 at a current density of 12 mA/cm2.